Packing, shipping, and display frame for cut flowers.



PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

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APPLIOA-TIOF FILED AUG. 23. 1897. RENEWED SEPT. 6, 1898.

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UNITED STATES JOHN M. CLARK, OF DES MOINES,

PATENT OFFICE.

IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO J. M. CLARK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application file]. Aughst 23, 1897. Renewed September 6, 1898. Serial No. 690,356-

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. CLARK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Packing. Shipping, and Displaying Frame for Cut Flowers, of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved means for packing cut flowers, whereby the stems of the flowers occupy individual seats or spaces segregated from the remainder and so arranged as to have an easy adjustment for convenience in packing flowers of different sizes.

Another object of this invention is to be found in the provision of means for so locating the individual flowers relative to each other as that each flower will be thoroughly ventilated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yielding support for each flower independent of each other flower.

Another object of this invention is to provide a frame wherein the collocated flowers may be exhibited and fully and perfectly viewed and inspected without handling the individual flowers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a frame arranged and so shaped as to contain. and segregate the individuals of a quantity of flowers, in which frame the flowers may readily be packed, shipped, and exhibited, the flowers occupying tiers or layers segregated from other tiers or layers, in which they may conveniently be counted.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for nesting a plurality of the frames together and in contiguity to another nest of similar frames, a space being provided between the nests or stacks of frames for the insertion of a cooling and preserving medium, such as ice, and the flowers contained in all the frames perfectly ventilated.

Another object of this inventionv is to provide means for packing, counting, and caring for the stock without manual contact with the blooms, stems, or foliage.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for avoiding crushing contact between the buds and foliage of packed flowers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an interlocked frame constructed and connected without nails, glue, or similar fastening, whereby the frame may be light of weight and convenient to construct, pack, and

I attain the objects stated and other objects depending upon or arising out of those stated by the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan illustrating two nests or stacks of frames arranged in a case or box, one of the locking-bars and one of the hinding-bars being removed from their operative positions and placed for detail illustration. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the indicated line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail perspectives illustrating the construction of and manner of connecting the members of the frame.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, I have-illustrated sixteen frames 10, mounted in two nests or stacks in a box 11 or packing-case, and since the frames are of identical construction I will describe one only of them. In the construction of each of the frames 10 I employ a border-strip 12, bent at two places 13 14 to form corners, which border-strip is made of thin light wood or similar suitable material and forms three sides of the frame. A notch 15 is formed in each end portion of the strip 12, traversing and at right angles to the lower margin of said strip, and said notches embrace and permit the strip to overlap an end bar 16, arranged at right angles to and connecting the rear ends of the frame. Notches 17 are formed in the end portions of the end bar 16', traversing and at right angles to the upper margin of said end bar, which notches embrace the end portions of the strip 12 and interlock with the notches 15. Notches 18 are formed in the end portions of the end bar 16, traversing and at right angles to the lower margin of said end bar, and are adapted to embrace the upper marginal portionof the ends of the strip located next below, when a series of the frames are nested, as illustrated.

The front or middle portion of the strip 12 is reduced in width in its body, forming an elongated notch in the front portion of the frame, and the sides of the frame or end portions of the strip are cut away or reduced in width, forming elongated notches in the upper parts of the bodies thereof, whereby when aseries of the frames are nested, as shown, slots are provided in the front and sides of the nests, by reason of which a free circulation of air among and throughout the frames is permitted.

The body portions of the end bar 16 are cut away above and below the longitudinal axis thereof, thereby providing spaces between the frames, through which the stems of the cut flowers are extended to the space between the nests of frames, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

A supporting-bar 19 is provided and located transversely of the forward portion of the frame at right angles to the sides of the strip 12 and is secured to said strip as follows: Notches 20 are formed in the end portions of the supporting-bar, which notches traverse and are at right angles to the upper margin of said bar, and a notch 21is formed in the lower margin of each of the sides of the strip, the notches on the bar interlocking with the notches on the strip and permitting the overlapping of the bar and strip. A horizontal notch 22 is formed in each of the sides of the strip 12 as a continuation of the upper margin of the body portion thereof in the horizontal plane of the uppermost points of the supporting-bar between the sides of the strip, and a notch 23 is formed in the end portions of the supporting-bar in the same plane.

The notches 22 23 are designed and arranged to receive the end portions 24 of a lockingbar 25, located immediately above the supporting bar 19. The upper margin of the sides of the strip are notched at 26*. and the lower margin of the supporting-bar is notched at 27, immediately above the front ends of the notches 22, whereby the supporting-bar engages and interlocks with the next lower frame when the frames are nested-as shown.

The upper margin of the supporting-bar is concaved in series throughout its length to provide a series of seats or depressions 26 at equal distancesof separation, and the end or outer seats of the series are located at greater distances from the sides of the strip 12 than the distances separating said seats from the next adjacent seats of the series. The studs between the depressions or seats in the supporting-bar are notched longitudinally of the bar, and the upper parts of the bar adjacent to the sides of the strip are notched transversely, and a strip of rubber or similar elastic material 27 traverses the notches in the studs and expansion and unlocking from the bars.

is fixed at its ends in thetransverse notches of the bar. The strip of rubber 27 is located immediately beneath the locking-bar 25, and in practical use the cut flowers are placed with the buds or heads within the space between the supporting-bar and the central portion of the strip 12, the front ends of the stems on the rubber strip and held down by the locking-bar and the remainder of the stems extending rearwardly across the end bar 16, as shown. One only of the cut flowers is placed over each of the depressions or seats 26, resting on the rubber strip and held down by the locking-bar, and said rubber strip yields and conforms to 'the size and shape of the stem resting thereon within each depression and yieldingly supports said stem. In the location of the end depressions or seats relatively farther from the sides of the strip 12 than from the next adjacent seats provision is made for packing relatively larger flowers or buds at the ends of the series, which provision is of material advantage.

It will be observed the strip 12 is'sustained above the bottom of the case or box 11 by the end bar and the supporting-bar, thereby providing a maximum space up and down for the buds to avoid crushing contact of the blooms or foliage with the box 11 or with the counter when exposed for sale.

Shoulders 28 29 are formed on the end portions of the locking-bar, which shoulders abut the inner faces of the sides of the strip 12, and notches 3O 31 are formed in-the forward edge of said bar adjacent to the shoulders, which notches embrace the sides of the strip 12in front of the notches 22 and in conjunction with the shoulders maintain the proper degree of separation of said sides.

A binder 32 is formed of a single piece of wood or similar thin light material and is provided with hooks 33 34: on its end portions arranged to embrace the central portions of the sides of'the strip 12, the distance between the faces of the hooks being less than the distance between the ends of the strip necessitating the slight approximation of the sides of the'strip to mount the binder, which approximation is sufficient to set up a resilience in the strip tending to hold the binder in place and permitting the binder to restrain the strip against binder serves the further function of'holding the stems of the cut flowers down upon the end bar and restraining the vibration thereof.

The nests or stacks of frames in the box or case 11 are held against movement laterally by engagement of the ends of the bars and binder with the inner faces of the sides of the case and are held against movement longitudinally of the box by cleats 35 vertically positioned and fixed to the sides of the box in contact with the rear faces of the supportingbars.

A block of ice may be placed on the stems The of the cut flowers between the end bars of the frames, and the cool air radiating therefrom will circulate through and among the flowers and frames and cool, ventilate, and preserve the same.

By cutting away a portion from the upper margin of the front of the frame provision is made for viewing and inspecting the ends of the buds or heads of the flowers.

I prefer to pack the flowers in the frames in layers or sets composed of ten individuals, and therefore I have shown the supportingbar with ten seats or depressions each to receive a single flower, which provision is of material advantage in counting the contents of a frame or case. a

It is intended that in practical use theframes will be filled by the grower of flowers, shipped by him through the different dealers, and delivered by said dealers to the consumer without removing the flowers from the frames. For such purpose the frames should be made as light as possible.

I claim as my invention 1. A frame provided with aseries of segregated seats, a string cushion stretched across said seats and a plane locking-bar located on said frame and above said cushion and arranged to retain flowers on said cushion.

2. In a frame for out flowers, a supportingbar having a series of seats in its upper margin, which seats are separated by studs, and a rubber strip mounted in the grooves in the studs, traversing the seats and fixed at its ends.

3. A knockdown frame formed of a strip bent to form three sides of the frame, an end bar interlocked with the end portions of the strip, a supporting-bar interlocked with the side portions of the strip, and a locking-bar Iionterlocking with the strip and supporting- 4. A knockdown frame composed of astrip bent to form three sides of the frame, an end bar interlocking at its ends with the ends of the strip, a supporting-bar interlocking at its ends with the side portions of the strip, a locking-bar interlocking at its ends with the strip and supporting-bar and a binder traversing the frame and provided with hooks on its end portions engaging the sides of the strip infiermediate of the end bar and the supporting- 5. A knockdown frame composed of a strip bent to form three sides of the frame, an end bar interlocking at its ends with the ends of the strip, a supporting-bar interlocking at its ends with the side portions of the strip, a locking-bar interlocking at its ends with the strip and supporting-bar, which strip and end bar are cut away to provide spaces for ventilation and the passage of stems of cut flowers mounted therein.

6. A knockdown frame composed of a strip bent to form three sides of the frame, an end bar connected to said strip by interlocking notches therein and forming the fourth side of the frame, a supporting-bar connected to said strip by interlocking notches therein and traversing the frame intermediate of the end bar and the front end of the frame, which supporting-bar is formed with a plurality of seats or depressions separated by studs integral with the bar, a strip of flexible material mounted in the supporting-bar and the studs thereof and traversing said seats, a locking-bar interlocking at its ends with the strip of the frame and the supporting-bar and located in proximity to and above the flexible strip on said supporting-bar, and a binder traversing the frame intermediate of the end bar and supporting-bar and engaging the side portions of the frame-strip.

7. Inadeviceofthe class described, the combination of a case or box, a series of frames for each end of the box, each frame designed to receive cut flowersand to firmlysupport them with the blooms thereof projecting away from the center of the box and each frame being of materially less length than half the length of the box, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of the frames within the box, for the purposes stated.

8. In a frame for out flowers, a supportingbar having a series of depressions or seats in its upper margin, which seats are separated by studs longitudinally of the bar, and a rubber strip mounted in the notches in the studs, traversing the depressions and fixed at its ends in notches in the bar.

9. In a framev for out flowers, a frame-strip, asupporting-bar fixed at its ends in the framestrip and having a series of seats in its upper margin, which seats are equally spaced apart and spaced from the frame-strip distances differing from the spacing apart and to a greater degree and a string cushion on said bar fixed at its ends to the bar in the greater spaces adjacent to the frame-strip.

10. The device of the class described, comprising a frame, a supporting-bar interlocking at its ends with the sides of the frame, a locking-bar located above the supporting-bar and interlocking at its ends with the sides of the frame, and a binder traversing the frame 1 parallel withand supplemental to the lockingbar.

11. A knockdown frame formed of a strip bent to produce three sides of the frame, an end bar interlocked with the end portions of the strip, a supporting-bar interlocked with the side portions of the strip, and a lockingbar interlocking with the strip and in a plane parallel with and above the supporting-bar.

12. In a device of the class described, the

combination of, a case or box, a series of frames each designed to receive a number of cut flowers, said frames being of materially less length than the length of the box and de-' I signed to be placed one above the other near one end of said case or box, vertical cleats on the interior of the case or box, and projections on each of said frames designed to engage said cleats to prevent the frames from moving longitudinally of the case or box.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a case or box having vertical cleats on the inner surface of its sides near each end, a series of frames each frame being designed to receive and support cut flowers and of such size and shape that when placed in the case or box at each end thereof, a cooling substance may be placed in the central portion of the case or box between the said frames, and projections on the said frames to engage the said cleats to prevent the frames JOHN M. CLARK.

Witnesses:

S. (J. SWEET, THOMAS G. ORWIG. 

